Reversible ratchet wrench



Nov. 1, 1955 w. w. HENLEY REVERSIBLE RATCHET WRENCH Filed July 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wesley .W.Hen/ INV NT R.

BY -MW NOV. 1, 1955 w w HENLEY 2,722,149

REVERSIBLE RATCHET WRENCH Filed July 3, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wesley W. Hen/e y IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent REVERSIBLE RA-TCHET WRENCH Wesley W. Henley, Clarkston, Wash.

Application July 3, 1953, Serial No. 365,883

6 Claims. (Cl. 8159.1)

The present invention relates to roller grip wrenches and more particularly relates to a novel and improved reversible ratcheting mechanism for such wrenches.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved roller grip ratcheting mechanism which will positively eliminate the lost handle action of existing ratchet wrenches while working in confined spaces where the limited space allows only an extremely small movement of the wrench handle, which mechanism will require no handle movement to release the wrench from its working engagement and which will eliminate the subsequent jerk or backlash found in conventional ratchet wrenches.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and smooth operating roller confining cage and spring arrangement for a roller grip wrench construction which operates in a novel and efficient manner over present roller grip wrenches.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roller grip ratcheting mechanism whereby the roller grip may be achieved and released without lost motion of the handle of the wrench, which mechanism is exceedingly inexpensive to manufacture, strong in use and which is particularly adapted for working in spaces which allow only a minute movement of the wrench handle.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds are achieved by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roller grip wrench utilizing the ratchet mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the head of the wrench disclosing the mounting of the ratchet mechanism therein taken substantially along the plane of section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the head of the wrench taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 ofFigure 2;-

Figure 4 is another cross-sectional view of the head of the wrench with the ratchet mechanism therein taken substantially along the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the parts of the roller grip ratcheting mechanism of the present invention showing the relative disposition of the parts to one another;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, detail perspective view of the ratcheting mechanism per se;

Figure 7'is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along section line '7- 7 of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the headed stud for releasing and changing the grip of the ratcheting mechanism.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, like reference numerals will be utilized throughout the various views to designate similar parts.

In Figure l is shown a wrench 10 including a handle 12 and-a head 14.

The head 14 of the wrench is provided with a circular recess 16 opening into one face of the head. A reduced bore 18 opens into the bottom of the recess 16 through the opposite face of the head.

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A non-circular cam or spool 20 is concentrically mounted within the recess 16 of the head 14 and includes a stud 22, integral with or otherwise secured thereto, which projects through the reduced bore 18 through the outer face of the head 14. The stud 22 is provided with the conventional springurged ball for receiving a wrench socket thereon.

The spool 20 is substantially square having convex surfaces 24 extending between the corners thereof and having the corners 26- thereof beveled to the curvature of the peripheral Wall of the recess 16 whereby the spool is rotatably received within the-recess.

A circular cage plate 28 abuts the rear surface of the spool 20 and includes circumferentially spaced sets of cage fingers 3t) overlying the convex faces 24 of the spool 20. A roller 32 is disposed on each of the faces 24 of the spool 20 and is retained thereon between the fingers 30 of each set carried by the cage plate 28.

The spool 20 is provided with an axial, blind bore'34 opening into the rear surface thereof while the cage plate 28'is provided with a central aperture 36 registering with this bore opening.

A cylindrical stud 38 extends through the registering aperture 36 into the bore-34. A pair of circumferentially spaced stop fingers 40 project rearwardly from the rear surface of the cage plate 28'. A portion of the stud 38 which is disposed exteriorly of the bore 34 and aperture 36 has a pair of springs mounted therein and extending radially therefrom and curving around in reverse directions to one another. These springs are designated by the numeral 42 and are provided with loops or hooks 44 at theendsthereof which hook over the stop fingers 40. The portion of the stud 38 disposed within thebore 34 of the spool 20 is provided'with resilient detents in the form of spring urged balls-46. The wall of the bore 34 is provided with spaced sets of recesses 48 and 50 diametrically opposed to one another.

When the detents 46 are seated in the-set of recesses 4-8 as shown in Figure 7 and in Figure 2, the cage plate is urged in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 4 to wedge the rollers 32 between the'peripheral surface of the recess 16 and the faces 24 of the spool 20. Thus, in this position, movement of the wrench handle 12 to the left, or in a clockwise direction, with respect to Figure 4 will cause the spool 20 to move with the head 14.

To assure the proper disposition of the springs 42 and to provide a means for releasing the detents 46 from their recesses 48 or 50 respectively, the outer end of the stud is provided with a head 52 against which the springs 42 ordinarily lie and whereby they are disposed between this head 52 and cage plate 28. Thumb grip 54 is provided on the outer surface of the head 52 whereby the stud 38 can be rotated. Upon rotation of this stud 38 so that the detents 46 are out of engagement with the recesses within the spool bore, the rollers 32are disposed in a central position with respect to the faces 24 of 'the spool 20 whereby the spool 20 will be permitted to rotate freely with respect to the head 14.

By rotating the stud 38 so that the detents 46 seat in the set of recesses-50 within the spool bore 34, the cage plate 28 will be moved in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 4 so that the rollers 32 would be disposed in wedging engagement at the opposite edges of the .faces 24 of the spool 20. Thus, the reversingv 'feature of the ratchet mechanism will be clearly apparent.

To retain the ratchet mechanism within the head recess 16, a cap plate 56 is'provided on the rear surface of the head 14 and is maintained thereon by suitable fasteners 58. The central aperture 60 through the cap plate 56 provides access to the thumb grip 54.

Noting- Figure 3 particularly, the operation ofthe springs 42 may be readily observed. When the --st;ud

is turned clockwise as shown in Figure 3, the spring 42 on the right will engage one of the stop fingers 40 to continually bias the cage plate 28 in one direction to wedge the rollers 32 to permit the operation of the wrench. When in such position, the handle of the wrench is turned toward the right or in a counter-clockwise direction to maintain the wedging engagement of the rollers 32 and consequently the movement of the spool with the head 14. When it is desired that the spool 20 rotate freely within the head recess 16, the stud 38 is simply turned in the direction which the wrench handle was turned to operate the same, in this case counterclockwise. When the detents 48 are unseated, the springs 42 will snap the cage plate 28 to a neutral position wherein the rollers 32 are disposed centrally of the faces 24, and no necessity for grasping the wrench socket to hold the same steady and against movement as the wrench is ratcheted is necessary.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ratcheting mechanism for wrenches and the like comprising a head having a circular recess therein, a non-circular spool disposed rotatably within said head, said spool having an axial bore therein, a cage plate abutting one face of the spool and having circumferentially spaced sets of cage fingers overlying said spool, rollers disposed on said spool between the cage fingers of each set, said cage plate having a pair of stop fingers projecting therefrom away from said spool and having a central opening therethrough in registry with said bore, a spring carrying stud received in said bore through said registering opening, resilient springs carried by said stud and hooking over said stop fingers, said bore having spaced recesses therein, said stud having resilient detents releasably seated in selected ones of said spaced recesses to urge said cage plate in one direction and force the rollers between the surfaces of said head recess and said spool.

2. In combination with a wrench head having a circular recess therein, a ratchet mechanism comprising a substantially square spool having corners slidably engaging the peripheral wall of the recess, said spool having an axial bore therethrough and convex faces of a greater radius than said recess, a cage plate disposed rearwardly of said spool and having sets of cage fingers overlying the faces of said spool, a roller disposed on each face of said spool guidingly received by a set of cage fingers, said plate having a central aperture therethrough registering with said spool bore, a stud extending through said aperture into said bore, stop fingers on said cage plate projecting from the rear face thereof, spring means carried by said stud engaging said stop fingers, resilient detents on said stud, said spool bore having circumferentially spaced seats releasably receiving said stud to tension and relax each of said springs to wedge the rollers into wedging engagement between the periphery of the head recess and the spool faces for moving the spool in opposite directions with said head.

3. In combination with a wrench head having a circular recess therein, a ratchet mechanism comprising a substantially square spool having corners slidably engaging the peripheral wall of the recess, said spool having convex faces of a greater radius than said recess, a cage plate disposed rearwardly of said spool and having sets of cage fingers overlying the faces of said spool, a roller disposed on each face of said spool guidingly received by a set of cage fingers, said plate having a cen- 4- tral aperture therethrough registering with said spool bore, a stud extending through said aperture into said bore, stop fingers on said cage plate projecting from the rear face thereof, spring means carried by said stud engaging said stop fingers, resilient detents on said stud, said spool bore having circumferentially spaced seats releasably receiving said stud to tension and relax each of said springs to wedge the rollers into wedging engagement between the periphery of the head recess and the spool faces for moving the spool in opposite directions with said head, said spring means including a pair of springs projecting radially from said stud in a helical pattern, the free ends of said springs terminating circumferentially spaced from one another and being looped loosely over said stop fingers.

4. In combination with a Wrench head having a circular recess therein, a ratchet mechanism comprising a substantially square spool having corners slidably engaging the peripheral wall of the recess, said spool having convex faces of a greater radius than said recess, a cage plate disposed rearwardly of said spool and having sets of cage fingers overlying the faces of said spool, a roller disposed on each face of said spool guidingly received by a set of cage fingers, said plate having a central aperture therethrough registering with said spool bore, a stud extending through said aperture into said bore, stop fingers on said cage plate projecting from the rear face thereof, spring means carried by said stud engaging said stop fingers, resilient detents on said stud, said spool bore having circumferentially spaced seats releasably receiving said stud to tension and relax each of said springs to wedge the rollers into wedging engagement between the periphery of the head recess and the spool faces for moving the spool in opposite directions with said head, said spring means including a pair of springs projecting radially from said stud in a helical pattern, the free ends of said springs terminating circumferentially spaced from one another and being looped loosely over said stop fingers, said stud having a head on the outer end thereof, said springs being disposed between said cage plate and said head.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a cap plate on said head encasing said ratcheting mechanism within said recess.

6. In combination with a wrench head having a circular recess therein, a ratchet mechanism comprising a substantially square spool having corners slidably engaging the peripheral wall of the recess, a cage plate disposed rearwardly of said spool and having sets of cage fingers overlying the faces of said spool, a roller disposed on each face of said spool guidingly received by a set of cage fingers, said plate having a central aperture therethrough registering with said spool bore, a stud extending through said aperture into said bore, stop fingers on said cage plate projecting from the rear face thereof, spring means carried by said stud engaging said stop fingers, resilient detents on said stud, said spool bore having circumferentially spaced seats releasably receiving said stud to tension and relax each of said springs to wedge the rollers into wedging engagement between the periphery of the head recess and the spool faces for moving the spool in opposite directions with said head, said spring means including a pair of springs projecting radially from said stud in a helical pattern, the free ends of said springs terminating circumferentially spaced from one another and being looped loosely over said stop fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,904,621 Kounovsky Apr. 18, 1933 2,003,155 Pfauser May 28, 1935 2,119,622 Freber June 7, 1938 2,153,988 Padgett Apr. 11, 1939 2,584,256 Brown Feb. 5, 1952 

